"I thank you cordially for your mediation which permits the
hope that everything may yet end peaceably. It is technically
impossible to discontinue our military preparations which have
been made necessary by the Austrian mobilization. It is far
from us to want war. _As long as the negotiations between
Austria and Servia continue, my troops will undertake no
provocative action. I give you my solemn word thereon._ I
confide with all my faith in the grace of God, and I hope for
the success of your mediation in Vienna for the welfare of our
countries and the peace of Europe."

What more could Russia do? If Austria continued to mobilize, why not
Russia?

On this day, July 30, the German Ambassador had two interviews at St.
Petersburg with Sazonof, and it was then that Sazonof drew up the
following formula as a basis for peace:

"If Austria, recognizing that her conflict with Servia has
assumed character of question of European interest, declares
herself ready to eliminate from her ultimatum the points which
violate principle of sovereignty of Servia, _Russia engages to
stop all military preparations_."

[Russian "Orange Paper," No. 60.]

At this stage King George telegraphed Prince Henry of Prussia that

"the English Government was doing its utmost, suggesting to